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... The Russia-Ukraine war has raged on for more than two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022. Although Moscow aimed for a quick victory over its Eastern European neighbor, viewed as having a much smaller military, its spirited defense effort bolstered by Western aid, has blocked it from making substantial gains.

In an interview with Sky News that was published on Friday, Zelensky outlined his vision for ending the "hot phase" of the war and proposed that NATO extend its protective umbrella to the territories of Ukraine currently under its control, ensuring Kyiv's security while leaving the return of occupied regions for future negotiations.

"If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," Zelensky told Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay. "We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way."

Zelensky said that NATO's invitation must acknowledge Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, even as parts of the eastern territories remain under Russian occupation. He also argued that such a move would serve as a critical safeguard against further aggression by Putin.

A ceasefire, Zelensky said in his interview, is needed to "guarantee that Putin will not come back" to acquire additional territory in Ukraine. ...